A Message From Our Pastor
Safe From All Distress...
For many Catholics, this title of this article might sound familiar. It’s excerpted from the Mass, from the prayer the priest says on behalf of the congregation immediately after the Our Father:
“Deliver us Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant us peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin / and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
The previous vernacular translation of the Mass rendered the middle part of that prayer as “keep us free from all sin and protect us from all anxiety.” It’s a little different, but the overall meaning is the same. The prayer also evokes Philippians 4:5b-6a: “The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all.”
In a complicated and busy world, oftentimes our lives feel increasingly driven by things that make us feel pressured and distressed, or burdened by anxiety. The daily
commute, work stress spilling into home life, academic pressures, family tension, fitting in prayer time, running errands, and worries about finances, relationships, faith, health… and the list of activities and worries goes on and on. Much of what busies us is necessary or even good, but many of our lives run at a frenetic pace. Without intentionality or active spirituality, many people find themselves racing through daily life at a superficial level, which, when one pauses to reflect on it, feels isolating. And social media can exacerbate that. For some people, that can create a kind of existential angst.
When we feel that way, it’s easy to lose our spiritual center, to lose sight of Christ who has conquered sin and death, the One who wants us to know His love and joy. While that is fulfilled beyond our comprehension in Heaven, Jesus genuinely desires to give us a foretaste of that even now. Whether it’s a reminder of the embracing and forgiving love of the Father (as in the parable of the Prodigal Son), or the restoration of spiritual sight (as in the healing of the man born blind), all human persons – especially you! – are created in God’s image and likeness and therefore destined for a greater vision and love than the world can give. You are made for more.
Lent is a time of increased emphasis on prayer. Prayer is simply defined as a conversation with God, yes, but it is meant to be more than that. St. John of Damascus defined prayer as the lifting up – and opening up – of the mind and heart to God.
When we lift up and open up our hearts to the Lord, we receive gifts of grace; that is, a share in the life, love, beauty, and peace of God. The more intentionally we open our hearts to the Lord, the more fully aware we are of those gifts, the less troubled we are by anxiety. Eventually, then, we can become safe from all distress.
When we are free of existential distress, we can see ourselves for who we really are: children of a loving Father who created us in His image and likeness, and called by the Son to live lives of love according to the pattern with which we were originally created.
While we all still have to navigate through the various tensions in our days, the human heart was not created to be defined by anxiety or distress or even sin. That is not our destiny. We are made for more. You are defined by God’s love for us.
Periodically, we all need to be reminded of this – myself included!
If you find yourself in a place where you want to be kept safe from distress or anxiety, if you could use a catalyst to rekindle hope, if you desire to rise above the mediocrity of the secular world, I invite you to attend the Made for More event on Tuesday, April 5th from 7 – 9:30 PM.
Rediscover the love with which you created and reconnect to the life and joy of the Heavenly Father who is bursting with excitement to reveal to you the glory of Heaven.
Rev. Steven Bauer
Pastor
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Celebrate Sunday Mass at St. Alphonsus!
In this Sunday's gospel, Jesus teaches about forgiveness in the parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” This Sunday's Gospel describes the reason for our joy: God's great love for us has been revealed in Jesus. Through his Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Christ has reconciled us with God and one another.
"Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."
- St. Therese of Lisieux
Daily prayer keeps you in good relationship with the LORD, and yourself.
Invite your friends/loved ones to Mass! Sunday Mass schedule in English is at 9 AM, 11 AM, and 5 PM. Mass in Spanish is at 12:30 PM.
St. Alphonsus thanks everyone in our faith community who answered our Lenten call to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving this past Wednesday as we continue to pray for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Currently, over $4000 was raised and will be sent to Catholic Relief Services emergency support! We are still collecting donations for this effort. Please consider making a contribution here.
Confessions are heard Saturday at 11 AM and Wednesday at 6:30 PM.
The Holy Week/Easter schedule is listed at the graphic below. Please note our parish recently added a 7:30 AM Mass for Easter Sunday, April 17.
Food Drive for Mission of Our Lady of Angels, This Sunday, March 27, bring non-perishables (peanut butter/crackers, tuna/crackers, snackbars, water, etc.) to St. Alphonsus and leave by the collection bins near entrances to church.
"Open Gym" Saturday Morning Kid's Play Time
Looking for a chance to get out of the house and for your kids to run around? Please join us Saturday mornings in Festival Hall (below the church) for a chance to spend time with other St. Als families and for the kids to play together. Please bring your own coffee, snacks, and any toys your kids would like to play with. Enter through the West door closest to the parking lot (by the Mary Altar). Saturdays 8:30 AM-10:30 AM.
Men of the parish are invited to Communio, a men’s group that gathers each Wednesday evening from 8 – 9 PM in the Rectory to pray and chant Vespers (evening prayer), followed by a time of conversation and fellowship.
St. Alphonsus Men’s group meets Thursday nights to pray the liturgy of the hours, have fellowship, and to propose challenging topics to discuss. We meet every Thursday night at 7 PM in the rectory. Food and drinks provided. All men are welcome, with most men being in their 20s and 30s. Access can be gained at the west facing rectory door in the parking lot. For questions or more information contact Matt Duff.
Do you have upcoming exciting events that you would like to share with our St. Alphonsus Church and our parish school communities? You can share them here!
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Spirituality and Spirits
Join us after the 5 PM Mass this Sunday March 27 for Spirituality and Spirits. We will learn the incredible story on the life and faith of Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J., a 20th century missionary to Russia who survived arrest, imprisonment, and Siberian labor camps. Presented by professor John DeJak
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Knights of Columbus
Save the Date!! St. Alphonsus Parish FISH FRY, April 8th! Our parish needs many volunteers to make this event a success!! We are in need of volunteers to help coordinate the entertainment games. Volunteer Sign-Up
St. Alphonsus Parish Fish Fry, FRI, April 8th, 6:00-9:00PM
in the Festival Hall
Menu: Breaded Cod, Coleslaw, Peas, Carrots, Chips, Hawaiian Bread, Mini-Cupcakes
Admission: Adults: $15, ages 5-12 $7, Under 5 are Free
BYOB for Alcoholic beverages only; non-alcohol drinks and desserts will be available
Entertainment includes Trinity Irish Dancers, Cornhole/Bags, and children games!
Fish, Families, Fun & more!
St. Peter's recently made history as the lowest seed ever in NCAA basketball tournament to make the Elite 8 round as a #15 seed. Learn more about this small Jesuit school from New Jersey.
Together, the Knights are invited to be ready when Fr. Bauer & our Parish call. The more members, the better prepared we are to answer that call. Our next 30-minute meeting is April 4th. To learn more about the St. Alphonsus Knights council, please contact Paul Gillespie.
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Young Adult Ministry
St. Alphonsus has a vibrant young adult community! Be sure to check out our Facebook page for service opportunities and other future events!
Join us on March 29th for the next event in the Prove Me Wrong series, "Is the Novus Ordo Worth Saving?" The conversation will be with Jesse Weiler, the Director of The Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL, and co-host of the award-winning Catholic podcast, "The Liturgy Guys."
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Faith Formation
Rev. Steven Bauer and our parish staff are always open to the faithful in assisting with your spiritual journey. May God bless us with patience and peace as we seek to live in harmony with one another and all creation!
Walking With Purpose- A Modern Woman's Guide to the Bible
Join us at St. Alphonsus this Spring on Tuesdays as we help you enjoy a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ, nurtured through personal Bible study and small group discussions created just for women! Walking with Purpose meetings are from 9:30-11 AM and 6:30-8:30 PM. Contact Susan Combes for more information.
INTO LIFE: Love Changes Everything. This is a new series from Notre Dame and Sisters for Life that aims to educate & form participants on how to accompany a woman experiencing the uncertainty and fear of unexpected pregnancy.
Made For More w/ Christopher West & Mike Mangione
Brought to you by St. Alphonsus, St. Edwards Parish, St. Mary of the Angels, & The Cor Project
April 5, 2022 at 7 PM in St. Alphonsus Church
MADE FOR MORE is an inspired blend of teaching, live music, and art that taps the deepest desires of the human heart revealing their ultimate purpose and goal. Want to be inspired by beauty and the wisdom of the Church? Join Christopher West and Mike Mangione as they offer a vision of the Gospel like you’ve never heard through the lens of Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
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Support St. Alphonsus through GiveCentral!
The most important opportunity to steward your gifts of treasure is to give purposefully to the weekly Offertory. We ask that every community member prayerfully consider the gifts that God has given them. In gratitude for such gifts, we hope you give back to God through a significant gift to St. Alphonsus Church on a regular basis. This giving back to God in support of the mission and ministry of the parish is essential to the spiritual life of you, the giver, and to the ongoing operations of the parish. Your offertory gift is most easily accomplished through regular automatic withdrawals from your credit card or checking account through our secure online giving platform, GiveCentral. You can also text Sunday to (773) 570-7600.
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Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
More than a century ago, in 1911, St. Alphonsus Parish built the Athenaeum to be a center for parish life, cultural events, community activities and the performing arts. It was an extraordinary venue back then, and today even moreso. As the historic building undergoes some renovation and restoration, in collaboration with the parish, the theater’s operating group, the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, has engaged an international arts management and consulting firm to conduct a survey to assess development and operational plans for the Athenaeum. Soliciting feedback from a wide range of people, it seeks to assess demand for performance, rehearsal, artist studio, community, office/co-working, and event spaces in Chicago, and at the Athenaeum specifically. Parishioners and theater patrons are invited to complete this 10-minute survey to help us understand the unique needs, desires, dreams and potential uses for a new facility.
ACTC will be screening Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" at 4 PM on Good Friday April 15. The faithful are invited to walk over to the theater after Stations of the Cross at 3 PM. There will not be an admission charge; however a good-will offering is highly encouraged! You can find all upcoming events here.
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Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts
Our parish school's biggest fundraiser, Art & Soul is Saturday, April 2 from 6:30 to 11:30 PM. The event will be held at Ravenswood Event Center, 4043 N. Ravenswood and includes a silent and live auction, dinner, drinks, and dancing! Tickets are $175 and will sell out. For more info and to purchase tickets.
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Around the Archdiocese and more
Lenten Video Reflections and Resources
To assist all in our community in your Lenten preparation and practices, a few multimedia resources: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as at the following:
Pro-Life News! 40 Days for Life general counsel Matt Britton and author Bud Macfarlane will be speaking with other protesters this Saturday March 26 at American Women's Medical Center Abortion Clinic, 2744 N. Western at 3 PM. The prayer rally starts at 2 PM. . Free giveaways and find out more how you can get involved.
The Archdiocesan office for Catholic Campaign for Human Development provides a unique opportunity to support those who live on the margins of society in several ways. They are hiring an intern and applications are due by March 31.
On Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 PM, join WTTW for a preview of the new season of Chicago Stories, six new stories uncovering the fascinating history, rich diversity, and breadth of human experience that shaped this great American city. During this immersive virtual event, executive producer Dan Protess will moderate a panel discussion focused on one of the documentaries from the upcoming season, Our Soldiers, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Chicago’s first and oldest Mexican-American parish.
Big Red Auction & Comedy Night : April 3; doors open 5:30 PM., standup comedy show starts at 7 PM.; benefits St. Edward School; adults only; in-person tickets $25, with food available for purchase and cash bar; show will also be livestreamed; in St. Edward Gym, 4447 N. Lowell Ave.; click here for details
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Community News
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago are a community based organization that has launched a variety of career readiness programs in which participants aged 18+ years old will be provided entry level job training for free to help launch their careers in construction, utility, and other related industries. Check out programs and services at ywcachicago.org
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When we plan our weekly giving, and set this money aside first, we demonstrate the great importance that God and the support of the Gospel have in our lives.
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Our weekly bulletin features many of the ways you can contribute to the vibrancy of St. Alphonsus parish.
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